Baby carriage



Oct.v7, 1941. A. G. FELDMAN 2,257,943

.BABY CARRIAGE Filed May 51, 19:59 5 sheets-'sheet 1 rOct. 7, 1941. A. GQ FELDMAN BABY CARRIAGE 5 Sheet-s-Sheet 2 Filed May 3l, 195.9

Oct. 7, 1941. A. G. FELDMAN BABY CARRIAGE Filed May 31, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 alf, i

ocr. 7, 1941.

A. G. FELDMAN l BABY CARRIAGE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 31, 1939 I m w Patented* Oct. 7, 1941 UNITED" STATES PATENT l GFI-ICE l cambia y ABrcARamoE I Abraham G.- Feldnan, Chicago, Ill., assignor tor Storkline- Furniture Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a eorporation'of Illinois l Application May 31;, 1939, serial Nb. 276,526?

a claims.. co1.. zaag-nf The present invention relates tov baby carriages and is particularly concerned with bablr carriages of the foldable type.V

One of the objects of the invention is the prof vision of an improved baby carriage of theV type which is spring supported and which is provided with a flexible basket depending from a rigid frame and provided with a rigid joor.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved baby carriage of the class described in which the rigid foorv has cushions which are adapted to be so. arranged as t0 Dresent a level bed surface or so4 that the occupant is adapted to sit up, with his yfeet in a depending foot well.

Another object is the provision of an improved baby carriage structure of the class described, in which provision is madeor an extensible housing at the end, adapted to be used for thev storagev of merchandise or for extending the length oi' the basket to adapt it for use as, the child grows: larger.

Other obects and ao'l'vantagesv of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which similar 1' characters,Y of reference indicate similari views throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings,V Y Fig` 1 is a side elevational view cfa baby care riage constructed according to l the invention, with the carriage in the extended or operative position; d v Fig. 2 is a similar view, with the foldable yframe-work in folded position;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary top plan view of the latching arrangement for latching the folding framework in the open position;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectionalv view, taken on a plane passing through the carriage midway be-` tween its sides, showing the details of structure of the basket, framework, and chassis;

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the carriage, with its collapsible framework in the open position;v Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view, taken on the plane of the line 6 6 of Fig. 4;

Figs. '7 and 8 are fragmentary sectional' views similar to a portion of Fig. 4, showing alternative v extend parallel to each other and are preferably upwardly and inwardly turned at each end,

where they are pivotally secured by means of pins I6 to shackles I5. vEa'ch'spring has a substantially cylindrical lbearing formation I4 surrounding the pin i6. and florpivotal attachment to the shackle'` I5. y The chassis may carryabrake arrangement ofA the type disclosed rin my prior application, Serial No. 3351.257' filed May 15, 1940.3 A

Each/axle I", 2l carries atea'oh end'a rubber` tired wheel 3, and the framework of the chassis comprises the springs 6 and axles I, 2 which form a substantially rectangular frame. Each of the shackles I5, which is pivotally attached to one end ci' a spring, has itsk opposite end pivotally secured to one of the scissor bars Illl and 20. The scissor bars t8, 2li are pivotally secured tdgether at t9 by means o a rivet, and there are two such pivotally mounted scissor bars on each side of the vehiclex forming a collapsible. framework` for' the carriage.

The lower ends oi the scissor bars I8 and 20 are preferably upwardly turned, asy at IL so as. to,A bringy the? extreme lower end up into a Substantially horizontal position with reference t0 the upper end' of the spring.v The weight of the vehicle and the tension placed upon the springs tends'. liowevenfto cause the spring shackles f5 to swing downward at'their' inner ends.

Whenthe framework isunfolded as in Fig. 1', the springs are tensione'd' by the unfaldingof the framework. Thev similar Opposite scissoribars lil,v 1 8' are preferably secured together by transverse .frame members ZI, v,comprising a strap or baroi metal', having laterally turned ends which are riveted to the oppositie scissor bars I8, I8 or 2U, 2U bymeans'of rivets 22. This causes the scissor bars on opposite sides of the carriage to' move parallel to eachotherand collapse at thev same timeand assures the foldingYV of both. sides of the framework simultaneously. It also gives Increased. rigidity to the assembly and braces the: frameworkv The bcdyof the carriage is provided by means' of an upper rigid' frame 25 andv av depending` flexible basket 45. The upper frame 25 may be` right half this. wooden frame isv preferably prio-4k videdy with a lpradet-.ting rib 68. which serves. to support the frame of a ioldabletop. The fol'dable top' 6l comprises 'a' p'lurzatlity of U-shaped members, which are' pivotally' secured' It will thus be observed that the lower edge of the body.

The body of the carriage preferably includes a depending basket 45, having fa pair of side walls, which taper toward the bottom, and its end walls and bottom may be in the formof a: continuous strip.

' The end and side walls preferably include two layers of the fabric,. with cotton, felt, or other paddingbetween the fabric and stitching to hold the -cotton in place. The finished surface of the fabric, which may consist of an imitation leather or any suitably` coated flexible fabric, is turned outward on the outside of thevcarriage and inward on the inside of the carriage, thus providing a, quiltedfabric of finished appearance on all sides. v

' .The padding protects the infant against injury due to engagement by the occupant with the frame, through the walls of the basket.

A t the rear.v end of the vehicle the basket is preferably provided with an extensible member 64, comprising a wood or fiber board panel cover, with the fabric ljon both sides, and connected by'a hinge of the fabric and by bellows, having its side and ends attached to the walls of the basket.

This panel 64 may be fastened in the uppermost position by means of a turned b-uckle or snapper carried by strap 65, depending from the upper frame 25. It provides a space for the storage of merchandise or a suitable extension for accommodating an occupant, who otherwise would be too long for the carriage, when lying down.

' The panel 64 is preferably' hinged so that it will 'be on a level with the floor of the basket when itis in open position, as shown in Fig. 4.

The side walls and ends of the basket are preferably secured to the upper wooden frame at regular spaced intervals by means of screws or nails, the fabric being folded over and turned down to provide a finished folded edge at the top, as shown in Fig. 4.

In order to support the basket on the chassis, the two scissor bars I8 (Fig. 1) aredirectly and pivotally secured to the upper frame 25 at its lower side by means of an angle bracket 23, having rivets passing through the brackets'and bars. Angle brackets 23 are located adjacent the forward end of the sides of the frame 25. A similar angle bracket 28 is located adjacent the opposite ends of the sides 25 for the purpose of pivotally securing each of the `two legs 29 of a handle 30 to the upper frame 25. The legs 29 of the handle extend below the angle bracket, and are pivotally secured at 21 to the scissor bars 29.

The scissor bar 2l) projects upward beyond the rivet 21 and is provided with a slot 24 and beveled edge24A. The slot 24 engages a rivet 40, carried by the two legs 38 and 39 of the slider,

which may be actuated by means of the laterally turned nger piece 31. 'I'he slider 38, 39 is urged downward by a compression spring which is housed inside the leg 29 of the handle. By Virtue of the beveled surface 24A the slider 38, 39 is forced upward when the carriage is unfolded and the beveled surface engages the rivet 40.

The rivet '40 and slot',` 24 hold the scissors in open position, but the carriage may be folded by pulling upward on the finger piece 31 on each :iside and permitting the handle to move in a the top 61 may be made to overlap and t around the shoulder |04 on the frame, giving a wind'- and-rain-proof connection between the top and-.

clockwise direction, which it does under the action'of the springs, and due to the weight of the basketactingV onvthe scissors.

-The scissors and the basket then fold down *in between the springs, and by virtue of the downward movement of the spring shackles, the folding mechanism is adapted to move down between/the ends of the springs.

lThe basket 45 is preferably provided with a floor insert 5I', which may be constructed of suitable lumber, such as plywood. The two sides of this wooden insertlcoinprise elongated strips of plywood formed `at each end like the front of a sled runner so as to be a substantial fit withinthe contour` of-.the basket.

At each end the side members 5U are joined by the transverse wooden' end frame members 55,` andthe side frame members may also be joined intermediate the ends thereof vby a pair of transverse partitionsf52, which aid in defining a centrally located foot well.

"I'he bottom of the V.foot-well is formed' by a piece of plywood 53, which is joined to the side frame members and the partitions 52,' and the space between each rpartition 52 and the end frame member 55 isbridgedby. afloor panel` 53, which is alsosecured to the side frame members 50. The side `frame members at the top on each side of the well'are reinforced by a piece of lumber 54, anda triangular block 6I) servesas a brace between the bottom 53 and the side frame members 50.r V'I'hefo'ot-well is'openat the top.

All-oflthese pieces ofk lumber maybe glued, as well as nailed together, to provide a rigid structure which fits i`n` the bottom of the basket.

The depth of the foot-well formed by the partitions 52 and bottom 53 is such that the bottomv 53 rests on the bottom of the carriage. When the end frame members 55 engage the ends of the basket, this insert provides a substantially level floor 53, which has anopening at the middle into the foot-well '54'. The yopening may be bridged `by meansiof a centrally located cushion BI, .which is ,long enough to rest upon the side frame membersoffthe foot-well, and which is providedwith a 'rigid plywood insert 59. n The central cushion 6I, as well as two other cushions 56 and 51,`comprise` members made of the same covering as the basket, and formed out of .an upper and lower strip, sewed together and providedlwith a folded tape at the edge.

The cushion chambers 55, 6I, and 51 may be divided by means of lseams 58 and'lled with Kapok. or rother suitable cushioning fibers, the Kapok preferably being on both sides of the panel 5S. The length of all three cushions is such that the complete cushionlls the bottom of the basket and covers the insert 5I These cushions may also be used for the purpose of providing a more rigidbackby folding the cushions, as shown in Fig. 8, so that the foot-well is exposed under the cushion, as shown in Fig. 7, in which case the end of the basket provides a back which is padded by one cushion, and the oppositely located cushion depends into the foot-well and cushions the edge of the foot-well, in which the legs of the occupant hang.

The foot-Well may also be used when the cushions are disposed as shown in Fig. 4, for transporting merchandise or additional clothing, food, or a receptacle of suitable character. The insert may also be used for supporting harness and straps which retain the infant in its carriage and protect it against accidents due to standing up or other causes.

While I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention, many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I do not Wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of all changes within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. A baby carriage of the type including a basket, an insert therefor having a central Well and a deck on either side thereof, and a pad for said insert, characterized by a pad comprising a fabric container divided into three sections by two lateral seams, each section being padded, and the central section being reinforced by a flat plate of relatively rigid material disposed within the padding and of sufcient extent to cover the said central well.

2. A bottom insert forbaby carriages having a flexible basket comprising a rigid member having a pair of side frame members, each provided with a substantially straight upper edge and a lower edge, the contour of which corresponds to the lower contour of the side walls of a flexible basket with which it is to be used, said lside frame members being joined at each end by a top panel member and being joined at their central portions by a bottom panel member, a pair of vertical frame members joining-said bottom panel member, one of which joins said bottom panel member and each of said top members, to form a well, and a pair of longitudinally extending top frame members extending along the upper edge of said side frame members at said well to provide a support for a cover, and a movable pad for said rigid bottom insert, saidl movable pad comprising three pad sections joined together and having their upper and lower covers stitched together at the point of juncture to form a line at which the pad folds between sections, said sections being arranged in tandem, and the central of said sections being provided with a rigidrpanel insert adapted to bridge said well and rest upon said upper side frames or to be used `as a back rest.

ABRAHAM G. FELDMAN. 

